[Editor's note: Undefeated played at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, where Jason Gorber saw it and then reviewed it for his site, FilmFest.ca. The film was recently nominated for an Academy Award as Best Documentary (Feature) and will open tomorrow in limited engagements in the U.S. Here, then, is Jason's review, which he has kindly allowed us to republish.]
A great sports documentary can capture everything one loves about a given game - if done well, it doesn't need fireworks or manipulation to craft something both special and memorable. Sure, the added tension of any competition (be it as diverse as a spelling bee or a teen music competition) makes for added drama, but in the right hands a beautiful story can be crafted within the documentary form. When a sports doc is done well (When We Were Kings, Hoop Dreams), it can truly be a wonderful thing.
Undefeated, in as improbable a fashion as any work, reaches these lofty heights. When the filmmakers chose to follow coach Bill Courtney as he tried to take a predominantly black high school from the doldrums of over a century without a playoff win to craft success out of a slew of prominent players.
We're introduced to the giant man O.C. Brown, enormous for his age, the troubled Chavis Daniels, with a huge chip on his shoulder, and little Montrail "Money" Brown, striving to get a college scholarship.
If the film was scripted, then it would have checked off every cliche, yet the story unfolds compellingly with the added ring of reality. The highs and lows of the team are felt strongly, the audience drawn to every play and setback for each individual. The rhetoric of the coach is infectious, yet equally presented are the challenges that his commitment to other kids holds for both his own family and his small business.
Driving and emotionally satisfying without ever appearing overtly manipulative or staged, the film is executed with a fine precision and a steady pace. The craft of the film is exceptional, but it's the small moments that the filmmakers were lucky/skilled enough to capture that make the film such a delight.
Undefeated enters the pantheon of the great sports films, one that's likely to provide tremendous pleasure for football and documentary fans alike. Directors Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin come across as exceptional young talent, their eye spot on for creating this gem of a work. Can't wait to see what they choose to film next!
[Review originally published by FilmFest.ca.]
Undefeated opens in select theaters in the U.S. tomorrow. Check local listings for theaters and showtimes.